Television support and mounting kit

ABSTRACT

A panel television support and mounting kit allows the consumer to employ any of the three modes of support, namely stand mount, elevated console mount and wall mount. The elevated console mount incorporates a vertical spine to elevate the panel television above the console and an offset arm to support the television over an upper shelf of the console. A mounting structure is provided that can be attached to the spine or to a wall. Pivoting and tilting is accommodated by the mounting structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:

The instant application is a continuation of currently pending U.S.application Ser. No. 14/929,541, filed on Nov. 2, 2015, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/698,041, filed Apr. 28,2015, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/109,253,filed Dec. 17, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.No. 13/487,459, filed Jun. 4, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,622,005 issuedJan. 7, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/316,792, filed Dec. 12, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,191,485 issued Jun.5, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/860,271filed Sep. 24, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,079,311 issued Dec. 20, 2011,which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/89,0828filed Aug. 8, 2007, now abandoned.

U.S. application Ser. No. 14/698,041 is also a continuation-in-part ofU.S. application Ser. No. 12/417,902 filed Apr. 3, 2009, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/135,888 filed May 24, 2008,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,530,538 issued May 12, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

The invention is in the field of mounting systems for televisions to bewall-mounted or carried on a base (console).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

The introduction of so-called flat panel televisions has addedadditional complexity to the task of the purchaser to support thetelevision on a suitable stand or to mount it from a wall or above aconsole. As used herein televisions should be understood to includemonitors without tuners and televisions with built in tuners. Althoughreferred to as flat panel televisions, many of these devices havesubstantial depth and may weigh up to 165 lbs or more. Flat paneltelevisions (referred to herein as panel televisions) represent asubstantial investment for the purchaser and therefore mounting themwithout damaging them during the installation or thereafter, is a majorconcern.

Panel television manufacturers normally make a bracket system to mountthe panel television on a wall. However, purchasers may prefer to use astand, or to position the panel television on a console. For that reasonmounting systems are frequently sold separately. This forces the paneltelevision retailer to carry a large inventory of incompatible mountingsystems, or to leave the consumer to purchase the mounting systemdirectly from the manufacturer. A purchase direct from the manufacturerforces the consumer to wait for an extended period while the mountingsystem is shipped and leads to dissatisfaction with the retailer for notstocking the mounting system for the panel television purchased

Prior art mounting systems require a high degree of skill in mountingthe system to the wall or other support and then securing the televisionon the mount. The resulting installation is likely (as a consequence ofstud position) to be offset from the ideal position. Additionally themanufacture's system normally provides only one mode of mounting, suchas wall mount or stand mount.

It is therefore desirable to have a universal television support andmounting kit that accommodates the principal varieties of televisionsthat have to be mounted, namely CRT type, and two panel types (plasmaand LCD), in a single kit. It is especially to be desired to have a kitthat allows the consumer to employ any of the three modes of support,namely stand mount, console mount and wall mount.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A kit according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention resolvesthe deficiencies of prior art solutions in a kit that provides all formsof mounting televisions in a single kit. The components are designed tobe economical of manufacture and ease of assembly with common tools. Bythe assembly of the provided components, the user can elect to support awide range of televisions on a console, suspended above a support, ormounted to a wall. Kit components are designed to be used in as many ofthe different configurations as possible.

The kit incorporates components for a console with multiple shelvescarried on shelf supports. A short spine is provided for use when theconsole is to be used to support a television on a stand on the uppershelf. The short spine has mounting openings that engage the shelfsupports and extends between the floor, or lowest shelf support, to thelevel of the upper most shelf support. A console with three shelves, andtherefore three shelf supports, is described as exemplary. The shortspine connects to the shelf supports to increase the weight carryingcapacity of the shelves and transfer the weight to the floor. Using theshort spine allows the user to assemble a console with an upper surfacethat can carry a conventional (CRT) television or a panel televisionwith a stand. The spine is preferably of a rectangular hollowcross-section. The use of a rectangular configuration allows more of thespine to be in contact with the shelf supports than would a circularcross-section, for example. The spine has a plurality of openings init's rear surface. Because the spine is hollow, these openings permitwires and cabling to be run internally between, for example, electronicequipment on the shelves and the panel television, thus preventingentanglement of the wires and cables and improving the finishedappearance of the installation.

The kit also includes a long spine, horizontal offset support arm(offset arm) with a panel television mounting structure on the arm. Inone configuration, the long spine is used instead of the short spine.Since it attaches to the shelf supports, it provides for the transfer ofloads carried on the shelves, but in addition extends above the consoleto provide an elevated support for a panel television. The offset armextends horizontally forward (as mounted) to suspend the paneltelevision over the console base and give the panel a floatingappearance. The offset support incorporates an offset arm that carries amounting structure. In one embodiment, the mounting structure has aspaced structural support with a hole pattern that provides mountingopenings for mating the structure to the rear of a panel television. Inthe exemplary embodiment the mounting structure is in the form of amounting plate but could be formed, for example, of spaced radial arms.Many panel televisions, especially LCD panel televisions contain hardpoints with threaded holes with standard spacing (the VESA standard).The mounting structure has openings matching the VESA standard so thatthe structure is easily bolted to the television to carry the televisionabove the console.

Spacing the mounting structure and therefore the television forward ofthe spine, allows for the incorporation of pivoting and titlingmechanisms in the offset arm. The offset arm incorporates mating tiltingbrackets that are hinged together at their upper ends and free forlimited pivoting rotation at the lower ends. This allows the installedpanel television to be aimed down to face the level at which thetelevision will be viewed (such as at the level of facing chairs orother furniture). The tilting mechanism is locked in the selectedposition with fasteners at the lower end of the tilting brackets. Theoffset arm has a pivot mount at its outer end that cooperates with apivot mount on the mounting structure to constrain a pivot pin. Thepivot mounts collectively provide for pivoting the panel televisionabout a substantially vertical axis so that the television can be turnedto face the viewing area or to avoid glare.

Another embodiment of the mounting structure and another component ofthe kit is a TV mounting frame. The term TV mounting frame, or mountingframe, refers to a frame that is adjustable in 3 dimensions, and iscommonly used in the industry to refer to a frame that can accommodate awide range of non-standard hole patterns and which spaces the paneltelevision from the mount. The frame is designed so that it can be usedin conjunction with the offset arm, or for directly mounting a paneltelevision to a wall. The frame is useful for larger panel televisionsand those which don't use a standard mounting hole pattern. These paneltelevisions may also be heavier and therefore, without specialprovisions, lifting and attaching the television to a mounting devicewould difficult or impossible for the average consumer.

The mounting frame incorporates two spaced channels, with U-shapedcross-section, that are oriented to be horizontal when mounted. Thechannels lie in a plane. The channels are formed with a center web andtwo sides arranged at right angles to the web. The webs have spacedholes along their length. At least one rail is carried on the frame. Inthe exemplary embodiment two rails are provided. The rails lie in asecond plane spaced horizontally from the first plane. This spacingpermits the panel television to be easily lifted and attached as will bedescribed. The channels and rails are joined together in a unitarystructure by vertical elements that extend between and are secured tothe rails. In the exemplary embodiment the vertical elements and railsare comprised of rectangular tube stock which provides the necessaryrigidity at low cost.

The connection of the frame to the television is made through panelmounting brackets. These brackets are not interconnected so that theycan be positioned anywhere along the back of the panel television toconnect to the threaded holes in hard points on the back of the paneltelevision. They can desirably be formed of stock similar to thechannels and include parallel sides and a right angularly relatedconnecting web. The web has multiple spaced holes along its length. Theweb is placed against the panel television and fasteners are passedthrough the holes to secure the brackets to the panel television. Eachbracket has secured to it at least one, and preferably two railengagement hooks. Where two hooks are employed they are spaced the samedistance apart as are the rails on the frame.

For mounting the frame on an offset arm with a mounting plate fitted,the holes on the mounting plate are aligned with holes on the channelsand then secured together with fasteners. Then the panel television,with the panel mounting brackets installed, is lifted into position. Thehooks are received over the rails and the television lowered intoposition. The panel television is then free to pivot and tilt as in aVesa-standard mounted television.

The same frame can be employed to wall-mount a panel television. In awall mount, the channels are secured to the wall. Normally it isnecessary to locate a pair of studs to insure that connection betweenthe wall and frame is sufficiently strong to support the frame and paneltelevision. Standard and non-standard stud spacing is accommodatedbecause the channels extend across the full width of the frame and havemultiple spaced holes. After the frame is securely mounted to the wallthrough the frame channels, the panel television can be lifted so thatthe engagement hooks pass over the rails and then are lowered with thepanel television to engage and be supported from the rails. The railsare longer than all but the largest televisions and therefore, thetelevision may be moved horizontally on the rails to center it perfectlyrelative to, for example, a wall alcove. Stops prevent movement beyondthe ends of the rails.

In both the wall-mount and offset arm mount of the frame, the securityof the connection between the panel television and mount structure isenhanced by a removable latch which is inserted through the verticalchannel members above the hooks so that the hooks cannot be lifted offof the rails.

The invention as described has advantages for the consumer and theretailer. For the retailer, stocking the kit avoids having to stockmultiple disparate kits, avoids creating a customer service burden andhelps the consumer select the right kit, and avoids restocking costswhen kits are returned. For the consumer the kit satisfies the mountingrequirements for virtually any television that the consumer mightinitially use it with, and any television that the consumer may acquirein the future. The console may be assembled and used alone with aconventional CRT television, or with a panel mount on a stand. Thenlater when the consumer acquires a Vesa standard LCD television, forexample, the consumer can substitute the long spine and offset arm andsuspend the panel television above the console. Should the consumerlater acquire a still larger television, or prefer wall mounting, theframe can be used. The kit incorporates multi-purpose components toreduce the parts count. All components can be broken down to lie flatfor shipping and storage in the minimum space. The kit provides for afloating appearance of the panel television above a console and thisvisual effect is enhanced by being able to hide the wires and cableswithin the support. Wall mounting is accomplished with minimum need to“work behind” the panel television because the panel television ismerely lifted on the rails and supported without having to manipulateadditional fasteners. The use of two engagement hooks on each bracketprevents the panel television from swinging from the upper rail beforeit is secured by other means.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall becomeapparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered inconnection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplatedfor carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the television support and mountingkit supporting a panel television above a console and utilizing themounting frame on the offset arm;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the television support and mounting kitsupporting a television above a console utilizing the mounting plate andoffset arm;

FIG. 3 shows the console structure with spine and shelf supports inplace;

FIG. 4 is a collective figure showing the primary structural componentsof the console and mounts;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the television support with anframe configured for mounting a panel television with a non-standardhole pattern above a console;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the mounting frame in position tobe secured a wall;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the offset arm with tilting andpivoting features in position for use on a mounting frame;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the pivot bearing and tiltmechanism;

FIG. 8A is a top plan view of the pivot bearing and tilt mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a detail view showing one of the panel brackets and theassociated engagement hooks;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of an alternative configuration forthe mounting frame with panel brackets which accommodate a titlingmechanism;

FIG. 10A is a rear perspective of the configuration of FIG. 10, showingan on-tilting pivot bearing; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the tilting mechanism for use with amounting frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a console base 10 carryinga plasma panel television 12 using a mounting frame 14 connection to thepanel television through panel brackets 15 and 18. The panel bracketsincorporated rail engagement hooks 110. When supporting the panel 12,the hooks 110 are received over rails 74 and 76. Limited left and rightmovement of the panel television on the frame is possible until thehooks engage the stops 113. The frame is carried by the offset arm 21through the mounting structure which comprises a mounting plate 16. Themounting plate 16 is connected by pivot bearing 19 and the offset arm 21to the long spine 22.

Spine 22, in combination with leg structures 48 and 50, support thetelevision 12 and the shelf supports 24, 26 and 28 (partially visible).The shelf supports in turn carry the shelves 30, 32 and 34. The spine 22contains the wire and cable openings 36, 38, 40 and 42.

FIG. 2 shows the same console base 10, supporting a LCD television 44that has four standard hard points with threaded bores 46. These boresmatch up with a set of four holes on the plate 16 so that the paneltelevision is supported directly from the plate 16 by insertingfasteners 47 into the bores.

The VESA Standard currently calls for all LCD televisions to have atleast four hard points and threaded holes positioned at the corners of arectangular shape with distances between the holes being:

75 mm×75 mm

100 mm×100 mm

200 mm×100 mm

200 mm×200 mm

400 mm×200 mm

The plate 16 has holes to accommodate LCD televisions with all of thosehole patterns.

FIG. 3 shows the details of the structure for the console 10, whichincorporates leg structures 48 and 50. The upper members 52 of the legstructures support the upper shelf supports 24 and 26. The lower members58 of the leg structures support the console from the floor and supportthe lowermost shelf support 28. The illustrated console is shownassembled with the short spine 62 which is bolted to the shelf supports24, 26 and 28 and so cooperates with the leg structures 48 and 50 tosupport weight carried on the upper shelves to the lower shelf support28 and the floor on which the console rests.

FIG. 4 shows the primary structural components of an exemplary form ofthe kit including the short spine 62 and long spine 22. As will appear,the spines 22, 62 each have a series of spaced fastener openings 64which permit the spines to be secured to the shelf supports and a seriesof spaced shelf slits 66 which accommodate that portion of the shelvesthat overlie the shelf supports. The leg structures 48 and 50 are partof the kit as are the shelves 30, 32 and 34. A single shelf support 28is representative of the three shelf supports in the full kit. Theoffset mount 20 is included. The illustrated offset mount 20 is onewithout the tilt mechanism but includes the mounting plate 16, the pivotbearing 19 and the offset arm 21, with vertical flanges 70 andhorizontal flanges 72 for connection to the long spine 22.

A panel bracket 15 with engagement hooks 110 is representative of thetwo brackets that are part of the kit. The mounting frame 14 is includedfor mounting larger televisions, televisions with non-standard holepatterns and for wall mounting.

The kit may alternatively or additionally include a tilting offset mountand a tilting mounting frame to be described later.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a console and long spine 22. The installationis shown configured for use with a panel television to be carried on amounting frame 14. The panel brackets 15 and 18 are shown in positionover, and carried by, the rails 74 and 76. The panel television, whichwould be attached to the brackets 15 and 18 is not shown for clarity.

FIG. 6 shows the details of the mounting frame 14. The rails 74 and 76are of square tubular stock and are interconnected by frame elements 78,80 and 82 also of tubular stock. The rails and frame elements aredesirably joined by welding to eliminate the need for the consumer toassemble them. A mounting frame produced using tubular stock is as stiffas a continuous formed plate of the same size, but much less expensiveto produce. Open face channels 84 and 86 bridge behind the rails andframe elements and have a series of openings of which holes 88 arerepresentative. The open face of the channels is presented forwardly sothat the consumer has access to insert and tighten lag bolts 77 thatpenetrate into the studs 87A or other solid structure of the wall 87.The holes 88 are elongated so that the lag bolts can be preciselyaligned with the studs. These same channels are used to secure themounting frame 14 to the mounting plate 16 of the gooseneck mount 20(see FIG. 1). A locking bar 89 is shown partially inserted in holes 91.The bar is fully inserted after a panel television and brackets isreceived over the rails 74 and 76. The locking bar 89 prevents the paneltelevision from being lifted or jarred off of the rails (see FIG. 7).

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the offset mount with the details of thetilt mount illustrated. The offset arm 21 is shown secured to the spine22 by the flanges 70 and supports the pivot bearing 19. The pivotbearing 19 is made of a pivot pin 103 (not shown) fixedly attached tothe holder 90. The pivot pin is 103 received in a bearing receptacle 92.Tilt brackets 94 and 96 have overlapping flanges 102 and 104 and arehinged together at their upper ends by a horizontal hinge pin 98received through the flanges 102, 104. The amount of pivoting isselected by rotating the hinge shaft 100 to frictionally hold thebrackets in a fixed relative position as will appear in greater detailby an examination of FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 shows the bracket flanges 102 and 104 which cooperate with slot106 and hinge shaft 100 to limit the total range of tilting to a safeamount so that if the panel television moves the mount under the forceof gravity and with insufficient friction developed by the shaft 100,then the total titling movement will be limited to an amount such thatthe television won't contact the spine or the wall 87.

FIG. 8A is a top view of the offset mount 20 and shows the pin 103 inthe holder 90.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary panel bracket 15. The panel bracket 15 has aseries of holes 111 which allow it to adapt to virtually any holespacing on a panel television. The mounting is accomplished through aspacer 108 selected for proper length, such as spacer 108 to insure thatthe rear of the panel television (such as a television with a curvedback) doesn't interfere with the rails and engagement hooks 110, whenthe panel television is placed over the rails on the mounting frame.

FIGS. 10 and 10A, show an alternative embodiment for the mounting framewith a titling mechanism, which uses tilting panel brackets 128 formounting to the rear of a panel television. A rail hook flange 134 hashooks 135 received over the rails 74 and 76. The hook flange 134 hasright angular related sides 136 with an arcuate slot 138. A paneltelevision is carried on brackets 132. A handle 140 is inserted throughslot 138 in flange 136 and is threaded into the bracket 132. When thehandle 140 is tightened, the handle 140 bears up against the flange 136and frictionally engages it so that the brackets 132 are held in adesired angular relationship to the frame. As will appear the tiltbrackets may be used on a long spine 22 and offset arm 21. The tiltbrackets also function when the mounting frame is mounted on a wall 87.

FIG. 11 shows the details of the tilting brackets of FIGS. 10 and 10A.The slot 138 accommodates bolts 150 with carry a guide 151. The bolts150 and a third bolt 152 are received in the bracket 128. They act asstops for the tilting movement of a panel television carried on thebrackets 132 so that the range of travel does not exceed a safe amount.The selected angle is locked in by operating of the handle 140 whichfrictionally engages the hook flange 136 and draws the bracket 132 intofrictional engagement with the hook flange.

The invention has been described in conjunction with an exemplaryembodiment for clarity and enablement, however the scope of theinvention should be limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of mounting a flat panel television in aplurality of different configurations, comprising: providing a flatpanel television console having a front side and a back side and anupper shelf; providing a short spine; providing a long spine, the longspine have a length longer than the short spine; connecting one of thelong spine or the short spine to a back side of the console, andsupporting a flat panel television on one of the upper shelf of theconsole or the long spine.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprisingproviding a leg structure and connecting the leg structure to a side ofthe console.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the short spine isconnected to the back side of the console forming a structural componentof the console.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the long spine isconnected to the back side of the console forming a structural componentof the console.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providinga offset arm; connecting the offset arm to an upper end of the longspine; and supporting the flat panel television from the offset arm;whereby the flat panel television is cantilevered from the long spine.6. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a pivot bearingon the offset arm.
 7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:providing an xyz frame; connecting the xyz frame to the offset arm; andconnecting the flat panel television to the xyz frame.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: providing an xyz frame; and connecting theflat panel television to the xyz frame.
 9. The method of claim 8,further comprising connecting the xyz frame to a wall.
 10. The method ofclaim 8, further comprising connecting the xyz frame to the long spine.11. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a tilt mechanismon the xyz frame.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:positioning the console adjacent to a wall; suspending the flat paneltelevision from the wall.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:providing a lower shelf and connecting the lower shelf to the consolebeneath the upper shelf.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:providing a middle shelf and connecting the middle shelf to the consoleabove the lower shelf and beneath the upper shelf of the console.
 15. Atelevision console, comprising: a console having a front side, back sideand upper shelf; and a long spine connected to the back side of theconsole and extending above the upper shelf, the long spine configuredto support a flat panel television therefrom.
 16. The television consoleof claim 15, further comprising an offset arm extending from an upperend of the upper shelf, forming a cantilever to support the flat paneltelevision.
 17. The television console of claim 16, wherein the offsetarm comprises a pivot bearing configured to allow the flat paneltelevision to be pivoted left and right.
 18. The television console ofclaim 15, comprising an xyz frame connected to an upper end of the longspine configured to attach to the flat panel television.
 19. Thetelevision console of claim 18, wherein the xyz frame further comprisinga tile mechanism configured to allow the flat panel television to tileup and down.
 20. The television console of claim 15, comprising a shortspine connected to a back side of the console.